US taking ‘fresh look’ at weapons for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is reconsidering whether to provide weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russian-backed sepa-ratists, senior administration officials said on Monday, adding that no decision had been made.

“It’s getting a fresh look,” a senior administra-tion official said of deliberations among Obama administration officials on whether to send defen-sive weapons to prop up Ukrainian forces. “Where things will end up, we don’t know.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Kiev on Thursday for talks with Ukraine’s government, the same day NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels. The policy rethink reflects what US of-ficials say is a frustration with Moscow’s continued support for rebels despite months of international economic sanctions, and the collapse of the latest attempt at peace talks at the weekend.

Washington already provides military equip-ment to Ukraine, such as counter-mortar detec-tion units, body armour, binoculars, small boats and other gear. But it has delayed any decision for months on providing arms, from rifles to anti-tank weapons, as it sought a diplomatic solu-tion.

However, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was particularly con-cerned with mounting violence after months of fighting close to the Russian border.

A serviceman from the ‘Aydar’ battalion waves a Ukrainian flag during protest against the disbanding of the battalion in front of Ukraine’s Defence Ministry in Kiev – REUTERS

Separatists pounded positions of Ukrainian government troops holding a strategic rail town as both sides mobilized more forces. Five Ukrainian soldiers were killed in clashes at the weekend and 15 civilians died on Saturday.

While the United States and Western allies pur-sue a diplomatic solution, the administration was constantly reviewing how to help Ukraine, Psaki said. “We haven’t taken options on or off the table.”